The use of dyes in plant cytogenetics goes back many years, as research in the fields of cytology and histology has been constantly developed since the first cellular studies in the 19(th) century. Initially they were taken from plant or animal sources, and now they are produced synthetically on a commercial scale. These dyes are classified in fluorescent and non-fluorescent, according to their chemical properties and the choice of use is based on the type of cell structure or cell group to be analyzed. The diversity of types and chemical compounds available in different dyes provides their application in advanced and classical cytogenetics studies. A review of their chemical properties and use is presented for the non-fluorescent dyes orcein, hematoxylin, Giemsa, and carmine; and for the fluorescent dyes 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI), chromomycin A (CMA), fluorescein, and rhodamine.
cell biology; cytology; histology; chemical compounds